Sunderland boss Roy Keane has hailed the attitude of defender Danny Collins this season.

The 27-year-old Wales international lost his place earlier in the season, but has since returned and has started 20 of the last 21 games with only suspension spoiling his record.

Keane said: "I say to every player, 'If you train properly and you answer me on the training pitch and in the games, you don't need to be coming to see me in the office'.

"When players are left out, listen, you don't need to tell me they are grumpy.

"I know that, I know they are unhappy about it. No player likes to be left out.

"But they have to answer me in the best way, and that's by training properly, and Danny trains like he plays in games.

"He is very enthusiastic, he gets stuck in and he deserves a lot of credit for that.

"That's not down to me or the coaching staff, that's down to Danny Collins himself."